Guadeloupe’s Extraordinary Gold Cup Adventure
The semifinals of the Gold Cup will be played on Thursday night with the hosts United States playing Canada in one match and Mexico playing Guadeloupe in the other. Who or what is a Guadeloupe? It is perhaps one of the best soccer stories of the year.
The little island in the Caribbean, about twice the geographic size of New York City and with a population of under half a million, is not even officially recognized by FIFA. It is still a French territory and it is also a player pipeline to France’s national team.
The players representing Guadeloupe in the Gold Cup are never likely to appear in a France uniform. This is a team that is made up of players who toil in Guadeloupe’s domestic league when they aren’t busy holding down other jobs. The team’s captain, Alain Vertot, works as a security guard at a local school. Another player works as a firefighter.
Guadeloupe’s adventure is likely to come to an end against a Mexican team that has struggled in this year’s Gold Cup but who should get by on pedigree alone. That doesn’t make a bit of difference to me. In a time when football is played for big money and it is easy to be cynical, Guadeloupe brings a little beauty to a beautiful game that can sure use it.
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Comments
By Tom | June 21st, 2007 at 10:58 am 
Imagine if they had Thuram too, who is technically eligible. I hear he may play for them in the future.
Do you know what happens if they actually win the Gold Cup? Would the loser in the final go to the Confederations Cup instead?
Posted from 
United States
By Bob | June 21st, 2007 at 11:14 am My understanding is that the loser would advance.
Posted from United States
By Laurie | June 21st, 2007 at 11:43 am Dammit, would you STOP DOING THIS?!? I was going to write a post on Guadaloupe today. Except I think I’m too lazy. So…thanks.
However, I’m not too lazy to go to my local Mexican bar (with the killer margaritas) tonight and watch the game and root for my French guys.
If I don’t post tomorrow, I’ve been beaten to death.
Posted from United States
By Thierry | June 21st, 2007 at 12:46 pm Angloma !!!! Angloma !!!! Angloma !!!
I presume ,The next 15 years, with Henry, Thuram,… Americans will enjoy.
Posted from 
France
By Laurie | June 21st, 2007 at 9:07 pm Oh my gosh, what a surreal experience. At this bar of perhaps 70 people, I was the ONLY native English speaker (till my husband showed up second half) and one of just two women.
Guadaloupe really played extremely well despite the fact that their little island is smaller than the city of Portland and Angloma is 42. It was one of those games that could have gone either way and Mexico just happened to get that one fantastic strike.
Posted from United States
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